...There are three primary sociological theories discussed in Chapter One of the text, Introduction to Sociology. Briefly summarize each theory and the major differences across the Functionalist, Conflict, and Symbolic Interaction perspectives. The Structural Functionalists Structural functionalist theory was formulated by Radcliffe-Brown, and expounded by Evans-Pritchard: The structural functionalist sees society as a complex system whose parts work together to promote solidarity and stability and focuses on the relationships between the various social institutions like government or religions. This theory recognizes that there is an inherent drive within human societies to stick together and strive toward equilibrium, the cohesion issue. Social inequality refers to any scenario in which individuals in a society do not have equal social status. Social cohesion describes the bonds that bring people together in a society. Interdependence is a central theme referring to the parts of society sharing a common set of principles. (Vissing, 2011) The Conflict Theorists The conflict theory focuses on the negative, conflicted, and ever-changing nature of society by emphasizing the social, political, or material inequality of a social group with a ruling class and a subject class including classes, genders, races, religions, etc. Within society people have differing amounts of material and non-material resources (the wealthy vs. the poor) and that the more powerful groups...
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...home A. Functionalist perspective emphasizes the way in which the parts of a society are structured to maintain its stability. Functionalists believe that everything and everyone have a place and purpose in society. If an aspect of social life does not contribute to a society’s survival, the aspect will not be passed from one generation to the next. Sometimes the function may be considered manifest (obvious) and other times it may be considered latent, or less obvious. A manifest function of prison is to protect society from dangerous individuals. A latent function of prison would be to provide jobs to people in rural areas, who otherwise might be unemployed. They believe that society depends on these functions to serve its people, and has a macro view of sociology. Functionalist perspective has a macro view of sociology. Conflict theory. Conflict sociologists see a world in continual struggle. The conflict perspective assumes that social behavior is best understood in terms of tension between competing groups over power or the allocation of resources. Conflict theorists are interested in how society’s institutions such as family, government and religion may help to maintain the privileges of some and keep others in subservient position. For example, the rich vs. the poor conflict theory explains how the rich use their power to exploit groups with less power, in this case the poor. Their emphasis on social change and the redistribution of resources makes conflict theorists...
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...According to Conflict Theory, society is: • A struggle for dominance among competing social groups (classes, genders, races, religions, etc.). When conflict theorists look at society, they see the social domination of subordinate groups through the power, authority, and coercion of dominant groups. In the conflict view, the most powerful members of dominant groups create the rules for success and opportunity in society, often denying subordinate groups such success and opportunities; this ensures that the powerful continue to monopolize power, privilege, and authority. You should note that most conflict theorists oppose this sort of coercion and favor a more equal social order. Some support a complete socioeconomic revolution to socialism (Marx), while others are more reformist, or perhaps do not see all social inequalities stemming from the capitalist system (they believe we could solve racial, gender, and class inequality without turning to socialism). However, many conflict theorists focus on capitalism as the source of social inequalities. The primary cause of social problems, according to the conflict perspective, is the exploitation and oppression of subordinate groups by dominants. Conflict theorists generally view oppression and inequality as wrong, whereas Structural-Functionalists may see it as necessary for the smooth running and integration of society. Structural-Functionalism and Conflict Theory therefore have different VALUE-ORIENTATIONS but can...
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...minuets on this question. • Q.3 is a theories essay for 33 marks. THIS QUESTION IS SYNOPTIC! You should spend 45 minuets on this question. Below is a list of all the areas and studies you need to know for each section of the exam. Don’t worry if you don’t know all the studies, each college/school are likely to teach slightly different ones, just make sure you know about that amount for each section. Q.1 For the first two pure crime parts you need to know: Functionalist theories of crime and deviance Durkheim – Social control, social regulation including suicide Merton-Strain theory, blocked aspirations Cohen – Status frustration Cloward and Ohlin – Deviant subcultures New Right/Right Realism James Wilson – Strict law enforcement needed Wilson and Kelling – Broken windows, zero tolerance Murray – Cultural deprivation, single parents and ineffective, the underclass Erdos – Families without fathers Subcultural theories Cohen – Delinquent subcultures Cloward and Ohlin – Delinquency and opportunity, criminal, conflict and retreatist subcultures Willis – pupil subcultures (learning to labour) Patrick – Gang culture (Glasgow gangs) Humphreys – Gay subcultures and covert participant observation Miller – Focal concerns, lower working class male subculture Matza – Delnquency and drift, techniques of neutralisation, subterranean values Marxist theories of crime and deviance Gordon – Criminogenic...
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...campaigns for Civil Rights. While seemingly different themes, each film portrays two issues important in sociology. After all, sociology can be defined as the scientific study of human social behavior and its origins, development, and organizations. Sociologists use many ways to analyze subjects from a sociological perspective. These ways are known today as the symbolic interactionist perspective, the functionalist perspective, and the conflict perspective. Each perspective uniquely conceptualizes society, social forces, and human behavior. The purpose of this essay is not so much as to narrate each film but rather to illustrate a better understanding for three commonly misunderstood perspectives. Although a daily occurrence, the consumption of food can also be associated with important moments in our lives. In the context of society, our nation’s food system is at the core of numerous social movements, political issues, and economic debates. After watching “Food Inc.”, we see that any of these factors in particular may become a topic of a sociological study. A functionalist approach to the topic of food consumption might be interested in the role of the agriculture industry within the nations economy and how this has changed from the earlier days of manual farming to mechanized production. Sociologists might also be interested in studying the different functions that...
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...Functionalist Overview • Functionalism is a macro, structural theory. It focuses on the needs of the social system as a whole and how these needs shape all the main features of society - from the form that social institutions such as the family take, right down to the behaviour patterns of individuals and the roles they perform. • Functionalism is a consensus theory. It sees society as based on a basic consensus or agreement among its members about values, goals and rules. • Functionalism is very much a modernist theory of society and shares the goals of the Enlightenment project. Functionalists believe that we can obtain true knowledge of the functioning of society and that this knowledge can be used to improve society. DURKHEIM AND FUNCTIONALISM Durkheim was the most important forerunner of functionalism. He was concerned by rapid social change from a traditional society with a simple social structure to a complex modern society. • Traditional society was based on mechanical solidarity with little division of labour, where its members were all fairly alike. A strong collective conscience bound them so tightly together that individuals in the modern sense did not really exist. • Modern society has a complex division of labour, which promotes differences between groups and weakens social solidarity. Greater individual freedom must be regulated to prevent extreme egoism from destroying all social bonds. • Rapid change undermines old norms without creating clear new ones, throwing...
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...observation Natural Science vs. Social Science: 1. Natural Science= Biology/ Hard Science 2. Social Science= Psychology/ Soft Science Theory: 1. A set of ideas used to explain cause and effect. Reactivity or the Hawthorn Effect: 1. If you know someone is watching you, you will always act differently. Sociological Imagination: By C. Wright Mills 1. We as researchers need to use our imagination to come up with creative ways to study human behavior. Institution: 1. An excepted way of doing things 5 Major Social Institutions: 1. Family 2. Religion 3. Healthcare 4. Economics 5. Education Founders of Sociology: 1. August Comte- Positive thinker - Comedern Sociology - Social Force - Social Statics- The force of cooperation and cohesion (Togetherness) - Social Dynamics- The forces of conflict and change Karl Marx: - Negative thinker father of communism Communism- There is no rich and no poor everyone is equal 1. 1800’s Germany 2. Industrial Revolution 3. Father of Communism 4. Wrote the communist manifesto along with Frederick Engles 5. Father of conflict theory - Rich get richer at the expense of the poor. A. Bourgeoisies- Rich factory owners B. Proletarian- Poor Workers Max Weber (v) 1. Conflict Theory 2. Alienation- We become reduced to a number 3. Rationalization- We no longer hiring family we are now hiring the best person for the job. Emile Durkheim: - Very positive thinker 1. Functionalist theory 2. Studies what is the glue...
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...human social life, behavior, groups, culture and societies. Culture: A way of life including widespread values (about what is good and bad), beliefs (about what is true), and behavior (what people do every day). Social Problems: A condition that undermines the well-being of some or all members of a society and that are usually a matter of public controversy. Sociological Imagination: Is the quality of mind that enables one to see the connection between personal troubles and social structures. Theory: A statement of how and why specific facts are related. Structural-Functional: A theoretical framework that sees society as a system of many interrelated parts. Social-Conflict: A theoretical framework that sees society as divided by inequality and conflict. Symbolic-Interaction: A theoretical framework that sees society as the product of individuals interacting with one another. Technology: the practical use of knowledge Science: Knowledge accumulated as statements of facts and theories or explanations for events and phenomena Lecture: Now that we have a basic concept of the vocabulary, we can get started with the lecture. The vocabulary will help us move more efficiently through this topic. The first topic that we need to discuss before we can get started defining science and technology is;...
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...Section B (one essay question form a choice of two) (25 marks) (40 minutes) Q. 1 or 2 (refer to specific sociologists, perspectives, theories, concepts, examples & evidence; primary studies/secondary data) 2 or 3. Explain and assess the view….. (compare and contrast at least two competing perspectives)(5 minutes) (2 marks) | * Your explanation of the view (debate / issue implicit in the question) is implied / clear / explicitly clear. Key terms / concepts have / have not been defined. (K&U: 2) Can you identify, describe and explain the debate / issue implicit in the question e.g. sociologists disagree about the extent to which individuals are able to shape social reality; interactionists support the view, whereas structuralists disagree (see Topic 1 - 1. Sociology as a reasoned & rigorous study of social life; structuralism vs interactionism) | (positively assess the view)(15 minutes) (10 marks) | * Your knowledge & understanding (identification and description) of material that supports the view is partial / detailed / very detailed (K&U: 2). Your interpretation (explanation) of how / why this material supports the view (application to the question) is implied / clear / explicitly clear. You have / have not included relevant examples (I&A: 4) Can you identify, describe and explain the interactionist perspective and how / why it supports the view (e.g. see Topic 1 - 7 b. The nature of social order, social control and social...
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...Sociological Theories A sociological theory is a set of ideas that provides an explanation for human society. Theories are selective in terms of their priorities and perspectives and the data they define as significant. As a result they provide a particular and partial view of reality. Sociological theories can be grouped together according to a variety of criteria. The most important of these is the distinction between Structural and Social action theories. Structural or macro perspectives analyses the way society as a whole fits together. Structural theory sees society as a system of relationships that creates the structure of the society in which we live. It is this structure that determines our lives and characters. Structured sets of social relationships are the 'reality' that lie below the appearance of 'the free individual' of western individualism. Structuralism focuses on the particular set of 'structural laws' that apply in any one society. Despite their differences, both functionalism and Marxism use a model of how society as a whole works. Many functionalists base their model of society around the assumption of basic needs and go to explain how different parts of society help to meet those needs. Marxists, on the other hand, see society as resting upon an economic base or infrastructure, with a superstructure above it. They see society as divided into social classes which have the potential to be in conflict with each other. However, the main differences...
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...inter-connected institutions for an example education, family and government which depended on each other to function. Functionalists see society as being similar to the human body. In the same way the body relies on the heart to pump blood round to other vital organs like the lungs and brain. Functionalists see society as being constructed of different inter-dependent components like the family and education system. So in the same way the human body would fail if the heart stopped, functionalists’ argue society would stop working properly if the family stopped functioning properly. Functionalists say this would happen because the family is an institution in which primary socialisation occurs. Primary socialisation is where younger members of a family are taught societies norms, values, roles and beliefs, By having the same values which we all share, a value consensus is establish. Therefore we can see the family has a function in the social system. This perspective of society differed from other sociologists of his era as Durkheim's theories were founded on things external in nature, as opposed to those internal in nature, such as the motivations and desires of individuals. According to Durkheim, collective consciousness, values, and rules are critical to a functional society. The functionalist perspective on the education system Functionalists focus on the...
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...Version 1.0 General Certificate of Education January 2012 Sociology SCLY4 2191 Crime and Deviance with Theory and Methods; Stratification and Differentiation with Theory and Methods; Unit 4 Mark Scheme Mark schemes are prepared by the Principal Examiner and considered, together with the relevant questions, by a panel of subject teachers. This mark scheme includes any amendments made at the standardisation meeting attended by all examiners and is the scheme which was used by them in this examination. The standardisation meeting ensures that the mark scheme covers the students’ responses to questions and that every examiner understands and applies it in the same correct way. As preparation for the standardisation meeting each examiner analyses a number of students’ scripts: alternative answers not already covered by the mark scheme are discussed at the meeting and legislated for. If, after this meeting, examiners encounter unusual answers which have not been discussed at the meeting they are required to refer these to the Principal Examiner. It must be stressed that a mark scheme is a working document, in many cases further developed and expanded on the basis of students’ reactions to a particular paper. Assumptions about future mark schemes on the basis of one year’s document should be avoided; whilst the guiding principles of assessment remain constant, details will change, depending on the content of a particular examination paper. Further...
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...A theory is defined as “a coherent group of tested general propositions, commonly regarded as correct, that can be used as principles of explanation and prediction for a class of phenomena.” There are three major theories that sociologists use when viewing social life: Structural Functionalism, Conflict Theory, and Symbolic Interactionism. I will offer a brief explanation of each theory and apply each one of these theories to prostitution. Structural Functionalism focuses on viewing society as a whole, instead of on a smaller level. The theory views social life as having many smaller parts that all work together. It is studied at the macro-level. For example, think of a fire pump. The goal of a fire pump is plain and simple – to save lives. There are many parts within the pump that must work together to make it work properly. The speed increaser/pump transmission, the impeller shaft assembly, and the pump body all play very important roles in the flow of water through the pump and into the discharge hose for firefighting operations. The structure represents how all parts of society fit together to make the whole and the function represents each smaller part and how it works together. There are two different kind of functions to consider when studying structural functionalism. The first is manifest functions. Manifest functions are beneficial consequences of a social process that are intentional and obvious. The second is latent functions. Latent functions are beneficial...
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...1. A social problem is a social condition that a segment of society views as harmful to members of society and in need of remedy. 2. The structure of a society refers to the way society is organized 3. An institution is an established and enduring pattern of social relationships. The five traditional institutions are family religion politics 4. Social group is defined as two or more people who have a common identity, interact, who have a common identity, interact, and form a social relationship. 5. Primary groups are characterized by intimate and informal interaction. 6. Secondary groups are task oriented and characterized by impersonal and formal interaction. 7. Statuses: A status is a position that a person occupies within a social group. 8. Ascribed statuses: Is one that society assigns to an individual on the basis of factors over which the individual has no control. 9. Achieved statuses are assigned on the basis of some characteristics or behavior over which the individual has some control. 10. Roles: The set of rights, obligations and expectations associated with a status. 11. Culture is defined as the meanings and ways of life that characterize a society including beliefs, values, norms, sanctions and symbols. 12. Beliefs are definitions and explanations about what is assumed to be true. 13. Values are social agreements about what us considered good and bad right and wrong. 14. Norms socially defined rules...
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...blocked off from the public with high security and complete isolation, the gruesome conditions are left solely for the inmates to face, particularly women. Unsanitary, unbearable circumstances in women’s correctional facilities today remain something that unfortunately the public is unaware of. Whether for something minor, such as disorderly behavior, or major, such as manslaughter, the females are all under the same roof. Sexually transmitted diseases, rodents, overcrowded cells, and sewage overflows make women’s correctional facilities anything but lady-like (Singer, 1973). Poor prison conditions for women are a growing problem in the United States today. The situation applies directly to conflict theory, which states that the function of culture is to justify inequality. The Marxist-based theory explains why different social families use their power to avail those with less power (Britz, 2015). STATEMENT OF PROBLEM In the United States of America, female inmates are required to live in different facilities than men. Between 1986 and 1998, the female incarceration rate increased by 80%. Even though there are more females entering correction facilities each year, male correctional facilities are still more heavily populated. Since there are significantly fewer women in prison today than men, the female penal system receives significantly less funding from the government, which leads to fewer amounts of medical staff and janitorial staff (McClelland, Teplin, Abram, Jacobs, 2002)...
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